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TASER
• Police have the following force options for dealing with criminal or mental health issues:
– Verbal commands– Pepper Spray– Defensive Tactics– Expandable Batons– Pepperball Launcher– Firearms
Verbal De-escalation
• Aim: To effect a peaceful arrest without further incident
• Initial approach is to properly use verbal commands and clearly communicate.
• Voice is a powerful tool that we use in conjunction with all other force options
Pepper Spray
• When verbal commands do not suffice
• Pepper spray is a second line ‘force option’.
Pepper Spray• Oleoresin capsicum (OC) is an oily extract of pepper
plants of the genus Capsicum– Spice in salsa, chili, curries– Pharmacologic agent in topical anaesthetic and analgesic creams– Principal active ingredient in Pepper Spray
• Complex mixture of – Fat soluble phenols (Capsaicinoids)– Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) – Dihydrocapsaicin
• Capsaicinoid content determines the "hotness" of the extract– Relative hotness is measured in Scoville units
• The greatest dilution of pepper extract that can be detected by the human tongue
• Advantages • Fear Compliance
– People are afraid of being sprayed and will often cease resistant behavior at the mention of pepper spray.
• Pain Compliance– Most people not under the influence of drugs are
susceptible to pepper spray, and will feel respiratory and eye pain when sprayed; often gaining compliance.
• Covers Large Area– Even if pepper spray is not a direct hit it can still have an
effect on a subject.
Pepper Spray
• Disadvantages:• Long decontamination process
– Up to an hour or more for pain from pepper spray to subside
• Collateral Damage– Many Officers do not like to use
pepper spray because it often effects bystanders (including officers) as well as the target.
• Does not work on everyone– Highly determined people can
overcome effects.– Some drugs such as angel dust and
methamphetamine negate the effect• Not an instant stop• Close Proximity required
Pepper Spray
Medical Implications
• Potential risks of pepper Spray– Capsaicinoid exposure
• May vary by as much as 30-fold among brands– Diluents
• Alcohols, organic solvents– Propellants
• Halogenated hydrocarbons
Medical Implications - Dermal
• Dermal– Burning, itching, erythema and severe dermatitis
(Hunan Hand)– Exaggerated response secondary to
• Repeated contact• Diminished sensitivity to heat- or chemical-induced pain• Augmentation of allergic dermatitis
– Reflex vasodilatation and sweating mediating hypothalamus induced cooling
• Risk of hypothermia if decontaminated with cold water
Medical Implications - Respiratory
• Respiratory– Broncho-constriction
• Wheeze, dry cough, SOB– Release of Substance P
• Increased vascular permeability/pul oedema– Rarely Laryngeal spasm/laryngeal paralysis
• Cyanosis, apnoea• Respiratory arrest
• Eye Symptoms– Redness, swelling,
burning pain– Conjunctival inflammation– Blepharospasm– Loss of blink reflex with
corneal abrasion– Keratitis
Medical Implications - Ocular
Treatment
• Dermal– Decontamination with warm
water (shower)• Pat dry with clean towel – do no
rub• Wet towel/ice packs useful to
reduce inflammation– Do not use lotion or creams
on affected areas• These trap the active ingredient
against the skin
• Respiratory– Remove from enclosed space - Fresh air– Oxygen and Ventolin nebs for broncho-
constriction
Treatment
• Ocular– Remove contact lens– Decontamination with
irrigation (15 minutes saline/water)
– Prevent patient from rubbing eyes
Treatment
Expandable Baton
Expandable Baton
• Advantages:• Carried on officer’s person
– Rapid Deployment• Pain and fear response• No cross contamination
– target of baton strike is typically who is hit
• Disadvantages:• Expandable Baton strikes can cause severe
and or lasting injuries • Public perception of striking someone with a
hard object is not positive
Expandable Baton
21 Foot Rule
• If a subject is within 21 feet of an officer with a weapon:–Studies show that they can reach
the officer and harm them before the officer can draw and fire their weapon
TASER
• A TASER is an electronic control device that uses propelled wires, or direct contact, to conduct energy to affect the sensory and motor functions of the nervous system
• Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle
TASER advantages• Carried on officer’s belt for immediate
deployment• Affects only those who are hit with probes.• Almost immediate effect upon deployment.• Fear, pain and motor function response• Control a subject/situation from a safer
distance• Integrated camera allows for added
accountability
From
TASER
$454,192
$740,172
$- $-
$-$100,000$200,000$300,000$400,000$500,000$600,000$700,000$800,000
2001 2002 2003 2004Year
Granite City, IL Police Dept Worker's Comp Expense
TASER Introduced
•2002: At risk of being privately un-insurable
•TASER as part of 3 element plan eliminated injuries for 2 years(through Sept 17, 2004)
Traditional “Blunt” Pulse
High Energy, “Brute Force” Approach90% Energy Loss
Traditional “Blunt” PulseNew Shaped Pulse™
Arc Phase
Stim Phase
New Shaped Pulse™
Full Energy Penetration
Shaped Pulse TechOutput Current Comparison "Shaped Charge" versus "Taser M26"
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
0.00E+00 1.00E-05 2.00E-05 3.00E-05 4.00E-05 5.00E-05 6.00E-05 7.00E-05 8.00E-05 9.00E-05 1.00E-04
Shaped Charge Current [A] M26 Taser Current [A]
60% 60% SMALLERSMALLER
Medical SafetyFibrillation Results, 5 Second Burst
Safety Factor
16x20x
24x
32x
24x
32x
44x
32x36x
48x
00x
10x
20x
30x
40x
50x
60x
0 50 100 150 200 250 300Body Weight (lbs)
Safe
ty F
acto
r
Lower Pulse Rates Increase Safety Margin
19 pps 15 pps 10 ppsBody Weight Safety Margin Safety Margin Safety Margin
66 16x 34x82 20x 56x92 24x 36x 100x
106 32x 80x108 24x 28x 72x119 32x 55x178 44x182 32x183 36x258 48x
X26: Digital Pulse Controller (DPC)• Digitally controls pulse rate• Consistent performance -4F to +122F
-20 C to +50 C• 5-second burst
– 0-2 sec @ 19 pps– 2-5 sec @ 15 pps– If trigger held beyond 5-second
cycle @15 pps• Initial “punch” to drop
– Increases effectiveness– Enhances safety– Extends battery life
• Standard Procedure– Maximum 5 second pulse– Maximum of 3 shocks
• Taser-use by RCMP– 2002 to 2007– 28 per cent, or 910 of the 3,226 people
who were shot, had to go to a medical facility
Medical Implications - Potential Injuries
Medical Implications - Potential Injuries
• Local– Taser penetration – laceration (0.5-1cm subdermis)– Secondary electric burn at entry point– Require ED and medical removal from head, neck
and groin• Other recorded injuries
– dart penetrating through the skull – Fractured vertebrae, even when no fall has occurred– Seizures– Eye injuries leading to blindness– Trauma secondary to fall– Drowning if the assailant falls into water.
Unknown 162 N.A.
None / Minor 1,852 98.09%(Puncture wounds from probes, abrasions)
Moderate 23 1.2%(Abrasion, skinned knee, carpet burn, testicle shot, penis shot, cut to mouth, cuts from falling onto glass)
Severe 13 0.69% (Dog bites, self-infliction, officer battle)
Field DataInjuries to Subjects
Unknown 114 N.A.
None / Minor 1,927 99.54%(Officers involved with fighting suspects or arresting them)
Moderate 7 0.4%(Knife thrown at officer cutting arm, knee injury officer ran into obstacle, struggle prior to TASER use, officer fell during chase & fractured arm, groin kick prior to TASER)
Severe 2 0.1% (Officer attacked by 6-8 juveniles, M26/X26 used in stun gun mode - suspect poor batteries)
Field DataInjuries to Officers
Excited delirium• Not officially recognised as medical condition
– Studies always done on healthy police volunteers (Vilke)– Animal studies (pigs on speed)
• Pre-disposition– Increased occurrence with illicit drug use/withdrawal– Psychosis or psychiatric problems.
• Symptoms– Profound agitation excitable behaviour
• Effect– Seizures, AF, VF, CHF, cardiac arrest– Most common coroner finding at Taser related autopsy
80%
16%
78%
36%
78%
20%
60%
21%
45%
11%
29%
18%
5%
29%
0% 0%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Flas
hlig
ht
Punc
h
Bato
n
Mis
c. b
ody
forc
e Kick
Swar
m
Che
mic
alSp
ray
TASE
R
Force Type
Comparison of InjuriesTASER Technology Reduces Injuries
SuspectInjured
OfficerInjured /Affected
Source: Study of Use of Force at Los Angeles Police Department, Capt. Greg Meyer. Statistics are for TASER technology deployed at LAPD in the TASER TE-86, a 7-Watt TASER. However, human volunteer studies of over 100,000 volunteers have confirmed a 0% injury rate for the 26-Watt ADVANCED TASER and 5-Watt TASER X26.
• Jared Feuer - reported 277 fatalities– From 675,000 Taser related incidents from June 2001
and October 2007 in the US• YouTube and other videos record Taser deaths• However fatalities form Firearms has reduced
– Of those fatally wounded with firearms 76% had a lethal weapon in hand
– 82% of those fatally wounded with Taser were unarmed
Medical Implications - Fatalities
• October and November 2007 – Canada– Four individuals died after being tasered– Robert Dziekański
• Non-English speaking man from Poland who died in less than two minutes after being tasered at the Vancouver International Airport
• Emily Marie Delafield – April 2006 a 56 year old, wheelchair-bound woman,
died after being shocked at least 10 times. – The death was ruled justified homicide
Medical Implications - Fatalities
Phoenix PD Field Results First Top-10 City to Deploy to All Patrol Officers
Suspect Injuries
67%
Lethal Force
50%
Times are changing
• June 2008– Federal jury ordered Taser International to
pay $6 million in punitive and compensatory damages for the 2005 death of the man who died a day after being shocked repeatedly by officers using Tasers
– The jury found that Taser International should have “more effectively warned police that Taser shocks were potentially dangerous”
….so following Taser• Remove Taser darts• Treat local wounds/burns• Perform ECG• Note lactate continues dropping for up to 60 minutes• Beware excited delirium• Observe patients with
– >3 shocks >5 seconds each– Female, short people, aged<16
if patient arrests……..
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